Josie Dudzik is a PhD candidate in Nutrition and Dietetics at New York University and is a guest contributor to this blog. She was an intern in the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic during the summer of 2024.
Background
The conservation of aquatic species in the United States is largely regulated by two agencies; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which governs living ocean resources and marine habitats, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS), which governs land and freshwater habitats. In their 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, NOAA has specified the development of sustainable, climate resilient aquaculture as a key strategic goal in order to accelerate growth in the “blue economy.” Similarly, the U.S. FWS has identified the development of a modern wildlife conservation strategy as a top priority in the 21st century. As the 2024 Farm Bill takes shape, stakeholders in the fishing and aquaculture industries have expressed concern over the exclusion of their industries in the new bill. With the House of Representatives 2024 Farm Bill draft released in May and passed in the House agriculture committee, the opportunity to advocate for legislation that would help with conservation in the fish and aquaculture industry is imminent.
Current Inclusion of Fish and Aquaculture in the 2024 Farm Bill
Fishing and aquaculture continue to be minimally prioritized in the current 2024 Farm Bill draft. At present, the 2024 Farm Bill draft includes the following related legislation:
- Section 7718. Grants and Partnerships for International Agricultural Research, Extension and Education under the National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292): this section establishes that the Secretary may offer grants to eligible domestic institutions in collaboration with international institutions to advance agricultural research with the goal of developing self-sustainable U.S. national resources, including food production and distribution supply chains. Research proposals addressing relevant topics such as problems affecting food production and security, fisheries, and local challenges are encouraged.
- Section 7507. National Aquaculture Act of 1980 ( Law 96-362): the amendment to this law in the 2024 Farm Bill draft includes the creation of an Aquaculture Advisory Committee comprised of non-governmental stakeholders who will assist in the oversight of programs supporting the development and enhancement of aquaculture as well as providing technical assistance to aquaculture farmers and businesses, using best practices and best available science.
Other Opportunities to Include Fishing and Aquaculture Legislation
- Fishing Industry Credit and Enhancement Act (S.1576 118th [2023-2024]): this bill amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to better support the commercial fishing industry by extending eligibility for credit and financial services to businesses serving those in the aquaculture industry. Including this Act in the farm bill would provide an additional financial incentive for businesses to engage in and support the aquaculture industry.
- National Seafood Supply Act of 2023 (S. 2208 118th [2023-2024]): this bill proposes additional support for the sustainable farming and consumption of domestically harvested seafood through a multifaceted action plan. Under this bill, an Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration would be established in the Office of the Chief Economist at USDA to promote and streamline effective coordination of seafood policies and activities, including strategic planning and research, related to supporting domestically harvested seafood. This bill also amends laws related to the labeling of seafood products to enhance consumer education by clarifying what seafood can be labeled as “wild USA seafood.” Finally, this bill would support promotion of domestically produced seafood, marketing, rural business development, and research and development while prioritizing the purchase and inclusion of domestically produced seafood in schools, and conducting research on barriers to business and infrastructure development in local and regional fishing industries.
- The SEAfood Act (H.R. 9477 117th [2021-2022]): although referred to the House natural resource committee, this bill includes several aspects that could be tailored to the farm bill, incuding research and grant programs to develop and enhance equitable and sustainable aquaculture systems and infrastructure in the US. Examples of research studies specified under this bill include those which examine aquaculture permitting, safety monitoring and regulation over the last 15 years, and developing a scientific basis for efficient and effective aquaculture regulation. Grant funding would be awarded to institutions of higher education to develop or enhance an aquaculture degree program curriculum. In addition, an assessment program would be established to evaluate the sustainability, resilience, productiveness, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness of offshore aquaculture facilities to better inform future resource development and related policy.
Conclusions and Future Opportunities
As the House Committee on Agriculture has passed the House 2024 Farm Bill draft, the next step includes a full House vote on the existing version of the bill. Subsequently, the Senate agriculture committee must pass the bill followed by the full Senate. Given that fishing and aquaculture are largely excluded in the House version of the farm bill, the time for advocacy is imminent. Stakeholders in these fields should direct their efforts to advocating on behalf of their respective industries and interests to their elected representatives in the House and Senate.
